Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Ideas and Tips Thanksgiving Recipes 65+ Easy Thanksgiving Brunch Recipes For A Stress-Free Holiday By Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 26, 2024 Close Photo: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely Don't get us wrong, we love hosting for holidays, but we also know how feeding your guests can bring unwanted stress! Make mornings with holiday company easier with our Thanksgiving brunch recipe ideas. Simply brew a piping hot pot of your favorite coffee blend, set the table (we've got plenty of ideas!) and warm up your pre-made casserole, bread, or morning cake in the oven. Easy as that, and you're ready to host a delicious Thanksgiving brunch that will hold everyone over until the dinnertime holiday feast. If your guests prefer a more protein-packed start to the morning, we've included strata, baked egg dishes, and quiche for savory taste buds. Even the hungriest holiday guests will be satisfied with these quick and easy breakfast recipes. 01 of 69 Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole Jennifer Causey Certainly a crowd-pleaser, this overnight breakfast casserole gets started the night before Thanksgiving. Pop them in the oven for a family-friendly breakfast that will be ready shortly after the morning coffee is brewed. Get The Recipe 02 of 69 Peanut Butter–Stuffed French Toast Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you have a larger crew to feed for Thanksgiving brunch, you'll need to multiply the recipe to accommodate the number of people you have, since this recipe just feeds two. But don't worry: This recipe is totally stress-free as it takes little time and the steps and ingredients are kept to a minimum. Get The Recipe 03 of 69 Everything Bagel Casserole Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Prissy Lee Bagels are a favorite breakfast for many folks, so we decided to make this crowd pleasing option. Just like your favorite breakfast sandwich, this casserole is full of cream cheese, eggs, sausage and everything bagels. Get The Recipe 04 of 69 Stuffed Ham-and-Cheese Croissant Casserole Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford The greatness of french toast and the savoriness of breakfast sandwiches meet in this recipe. The ultimate make ahead meal, prepare this recipe through step three and then freeze until Thanksgiving. Get The Recipe 05 of 69 Seeded Pumpkin Bread Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely If you want to make something festive and full of fall flavor, try this bread decorated with pumpkin, flax and sesame seeds. This recipe makes two loaves so there is plenty for a crowd or share one with someone you are thankful for. Get The Recipe 06 of 69 Pumpkin-Pecan Coffee Cake Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely Take a breather and enjoy the taste of fall with this easy recipe. Using the same batter as the previous seeded pumpkin bread, this cake is made for a crowd and covered in a delightful butter and brown sugar topping. Get The Recipe 07 of 69 Breakfast Enchiladas Hector Manuel Sanchez Roll together your ingredients and refrigerate the night before for a no-hassle morning meal. Everyone loves Tex-Mex brunch, and this recipe promises to impress. Get The Recipe 08 of 69 Overnight French Toast Casserole with Bourbon-Maple Syrup Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Assemble this decadent breakfast casserole the night before Thanksgiving, then dream of French toast all night long. Whether you add bourbon or not, be sure to choose the good stuff: 100% pure maple syrup. Get The Recipe 09 of 69 Shrimp and Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos We added bacon and cheese for the ultimate Shrimp and Grits casserole. Get this dish going and on the brunch table in only an hour. Get The Recipe 10 of 69 Coffee Cake Muffins Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist Karen Rankin We love coffee cake and muffins so we decided to combine the two in this breakfast treat. If you want to put your own spin on these muffins, fold in a few blueberries or chocolate chips into the batter to really make this recipe your own. Get The Recipe 11 of 69 Cinnamon Roll Casserole Antonis Achilleos This gigantic cinnamon roll even more delicious than it looks. It combines all of the decedent goodness of a gooey cinnamon roll with all the ease of a casserole. Plus, it's kid approved and party ready. Get The Recipe 12 of 69 Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos This cheesy breakfast bake combines two of our favorite things: sausage and hash browns. Double the sausage guarantees that this brunch is hardy enough to fill a crowd. Get The Recipe 13 of 69 Best-Ever Sticky Buns Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We call dibs on licking the spoon! This sugary treat is just want your Thanksgiving brunch bunch needs. Holiday guests will be thrilled to be greeted to the kitchen by the smell of cinnamon, and even happier once they get a bite of these buns. Get The Recipe 14 of 69 Baked Oatmeal Jennifer Causey Leave the indulgence for later in the day. This Baked Oatmeal can be customized with your favorite seasonal fruits. In anticipation of a decadent dinnertime feast, this healthy and filling casserole is a great option. Get The Recipe 15 of 69 Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Jennifer Causey This savory tater tot breakfast dish will hold you over until Thanksgiving dinner. Best of all? You can make it the night before. Get The Recipe 16 of 69 Big-Batch Apple-Cinnamon Pancakes Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis With all the Thanksgiving dinner prep, we simply do not have the time to flip pancakes. This big-batch pancake is the perfect solution, and it only takes 20 minutes to bake in the oven. Get The Recipe 17 of 69 Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey Skyler Burt We can't let a holiday go by without a little something fried. Rosemary hot honey gives these mini chicken biscuits just the right amount of seasonal spice. Get The Recipe 18 of 69 Bakeshop Blueberry Muffins Southern Living These fluffy homemade blueberry muffins will save you a trip to the bakery. Soft, buttery muffins are possible from home and perfect for feeding a crowd. Get The Recipe 19 of 69 Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet Jennifer Causey We'll take these fluffy homemade biscuits with extra gravy. This homestyle breakfast is super comforting, especially for the host (it's only one pan!). Get The Recipe 20 of 69 Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Cider Glaze Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Cinnamon rolls are the perfect make-ahead breakfast that everyone in your family will love. These are made with homemade slow-cooker apple butter that will wow your family members while not taking a lot of prep time on your part. Get The Recipe 21 of 69 Easy Huevos Rancheros Bake Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Thanksgiving guests will be asking for seconds of this hearty Tex-Mex bake topped with avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and jalapeño. Just remind them that dinner is coming sooner than they think. Get The Recipe 22 of 69 Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole Caitlin Bensel Don't let your slow cooker miss out on the fun. While your other appliances set the scene for dinner, let your slow cooker work on breakfast. Get The Recipe 23 of 69 Country Ham Hash Hector Manuel Sanchez Invite sleepy Thanksgiving guests down to the kitchen with these holiday-worthy breakfast potatoes. Serve this alongside one of our egg or pancake casserole recipes for a brunch spread fit for the occasion. Get The Recipe 24 of 69 Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Start the holiday off with a slice of breakfast cake. Top slices of this scrumptious blueberry treat with a dollop of whipped cream. Get The Recipe 25 of 69 Sausage-and-Grits Quiche Photo: Melina Hammer This is a go-to recipe that many hosts reach for again and again, with recipe cards stained, creased, and much-loved from years of use. You will certainly impress your brunch company with this clever, simple spin on a traditional quiche. Get The Recipe 26 of 69 Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Get the kiddos involved in making these sticky sweet treats. Made with refrigerated crescent roll dough, they're easier than most cinnamon roll recipes and are delicious alongside one of our breakfast casseroles and a big cup of coffee. Get The Recipe 27 of 69 Creamy Egg Strata Iain Bagwell This dreamy egg strata is worth waking up for. Swiss and parmesan are sure to become your new go-to cheese pairing with eggs after a bite of this recipe. Get The Recipe 28 of 69 Biscuit Beignets Southern Living A sugar rush for brunch? Count us in! These New Orleans-style breakfast treats will be ready in less than 10 minutes with the help of your trusty Dutch oven. Get The Recipe 29 of 69 Fried Skillet Potatoes Caitlin Bensel Skillet potatoes are so easy to make and oh-so good. They're a trusty side dish for any breakfast main, or add eggs and bacon for an ultimate savory dish. Get The Recipe 30 of 69 Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche Alison Miksch When you have a houseful of visiting family to feed, nothing is easier than a cheesy quiche still warm from the oven. It can keep a whole family full until lunchtime, and this recipe involves breakfast ingredients that are sure to please: bacon, cheesy grits, and a traditional egg quiche. Get The Recipe 31 of 69 Pumpkin Bread Micah A. Leal These autumnal loafs are made for holiday mornings. Slice and serve, though we wouldn't blame you if there were a piece or two missing by the time these make it to the table. Get The Recipe 32 of 69 Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole Alison Miksch Topped with Gruyère cheese, this casserole browns beautifully and has a delicious nutty flavor, but you can sub Swiss cheese if you prefer. Pre-made croissants from your local grocery give bakery-fresh flavor with minimal effort, and add a flaky crust to the dish's edges. Get The Recipe 33 of 69 Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Kay E Clarke No need to head to the donut shop with this recipe! This bakery-worthy brunch is easy to whip up in a bundt pan at home. Pair with a large pot of coffee to keep your guests happy all morning long. Get The Recipe 34 of 69 Buttermilk Breakfast Scones Southern Living These buttery and tender pastries are crusted in sugar and dispersed with buttermilk currants. Prepare these scones for the ultimate grab-and-go meal so that guests stay out of your kitchen until the big Thanksgiving feast. Get The Recipe 35 of 69 Apple Muffins Stephen Devries; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Bake these Apple Muffins the night before and warm them in the oven to wake your guests with the sweet aromas of baked apples and cinnamon. Serve with your choice of breakfast beverage for an easy meal before the big feast. Get The Recipe 36 of 69 Eggs Benedict Casserole Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke We're all about working smarter, not harder around the holidays, and this Eggs Benedict Casserole is the answer to your Thanksgiving morning worries. Prepare this casserole the night before and then simply pop it in the oven in the morning—no egg poaching necessary. Get The Recipe 37 of 69 Oven-Baked Buttermilk French Toast Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Mama's French toast recipe got an upgrade with buttermilk in this twist on a classic. Pair with a bowl of fresh fruit for a delicious, crowd-pleasing breakfast. Get The Recipe 38 of 69 Cinnamon-Pecan Breakfast Bread Pudding Assemble this bread pudding the night before and have it as a sweet brunch dish the day of Thanksgiving. Your guests will be amazed by the fall flavors in each bite. Get The Recipe 39 of 69 Squash Frittata Photo: Hector Sanchez A squash casserole may shine on the table come supper, but the star of breakfast is this Squash Frittata. It's surprisingly easy and absolutely beautiful decorated with colorful squash. Get The Recipe 40 of 69 Breakfast Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Thanksgiving is a day of celebration, so why not start your day off right with a cookie? Full of oats, dried fruits and pecans, these good-for-you cookies will make all your whole family smile as well as give them the nutrients they need to keep them going until the main meal. Get The Recipe 41 of 69 Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Preparing portions in individual ramekins is an easy way to make your life as host easier. With individually-packaged servings of yummy cheese grits, you'll know there's enough for everyone, especially when served with fresh fruit, bacon, or other breakfast goodies. Get The Recipe 42 of 69 Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Sometimes to get away from the stress of holiday cooking, it is good to make something fun and rewarding. If you are one of those overachievers, try this cinnamon sugar pull-apart bread. With a beautiful presentation, you will feel proud that you checked one thing off your list. Get The Recipe 43 of 69 Croissant Breakfast Casserole Victor Protasio Made with day-old mini croissants, this breakfast casserole is as easy as it is delicious, with caramelized onions, cheesy egg custard, and a touch of Dijon. Store this crowd-pleaser in the fridge overnight and pop it in the oven in the morning to greet holiday guests with savory aromas and impressive brunch. Get The Recipe 44 of 69 Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez This easier twist on a soufflé is sure to have guests more than satisfied. Yellow stone-ground grits bake up with cubed ham, fresh corn, and thyme while your guests wake up and eagerly anticipate breakfast. Get The Recipe 45 of 69 Banana Bread French Toast Casserole Jennifer Causey Combining two beloved breakfast classics, this Banana Bread French Toast Casserole might be the new take you've been searching for. This sweet breakfast spends the majority of its preparation time baking in the oven and the result will be a new family favorite. Get The Recipe 46 of 69 Hashbrown Casserole Southern Living Southerners love a good Hashbrown Casserole. This dish delights for breakfast or can be a star later on among the Thanksgiving dinner feast. Or both? There's no such thing as enough cheesy, creamy potato. Get The Recipe 47 of 69 Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole Alison Miksch; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas This brunch will blow away your holiday crowd. With everyone's favorite breakfast notes—flakey pastry, hot sausage, and a killer cheese combination—this hardy dish will sit pretty in your fridge overnight before baking in the morning. Get The Recipe 48 of 69 Crustless Ham and Collard Greens Quiche Photo: Jennifer Davick Leftover ham and frozen greens make this the easiest quiche full of shortcuts that your satisfied breakfast guests would never have guessed. With ham, collards, onion, and cheese, you won't even miss the pie crust. Get The Recipe 49 of 69 Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen This Thanksgiving, do brunch right with a convenient casserole version of a Southern classic: cheese grits. This dish is creamy, delicious, and fit for a crowd. Get The Recipe 50 of 69 Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Serving up this bread pudding-like casserole is a much better alternative than spending Thanksgiving morning hunched over the stove, flipping pancakes. This dish is night-before-friendly, but the final touch made in the morning, the streusel crumble, takes it to the next level. Get The Recipe 51 of 69 Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole Southern Living Choose your fighter: Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole or Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet. On Thanksgiving, it always helps to know which dishes you will need for preparing the feast later. Whichever medium you choose, you can't go wrong with warm biscuits and delicious, creamy sausage gravy. Get The Recipe 52 of 69 Pancake Casserole Caitlin Bensel An instant classic, this casserole features everyone's favorite breakfast treat: pancakes, of course. Letting the pancakes soak up custard overnight transforms average flapjacks into a delicious brunch with all the best parts of a bread pudding. Get The Recipe 53 of 69 Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole Alison Miksch The ultimate make-ahead brunch, this smoky and cheesy casserole can't be beat. Your Thanksgiving guests will go crazy for this grits combo that kick the holiday off on a high note. Get The Recipe 54 of 69 Baked Oatmeal With Apple, Cranberries and Pecans Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Are you looking for a lighter option so you can still have room for the big thanksgiving feast? Baked oatmeal is a great option, especially this one which celebrates fall harvest flavors. Make this recipe the night before and then bake it thanksgiving day for the best results. Get The Recipe 55 of 69 Praline-Pecan French Toast Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell French toast gets a special occasion-worthy upgrade with this recipe. After chilling overnight, pop this sweet and nutty dish in the oven until golden brown. Get The Recipe 56 of 69 Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Start the day with sausage and gravy, and end it with turkey and gravy. This savory casserole recipe makes for hardy and comforting brunch finished off with cheddar-cornmeal biscuits. Get The Recipe 57 of 69 Cinnamon Coffee Cake Antonis Achilleos A solid coffee cake recipe is something to treasure. Serve it up for brunch, and after a sweet slice with a crumbly exterior and gooey center, your holiday guests will be begging for your recipe. Get The Recipe 58 of 69 Any-Berry Muffins with Cornmeal Streusel Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Whip up these muffins with any combination of your favorite berries. The crunchy cornmeal crumble adds delectable texture and flavor to these crowd-pleasing brunch treats. Get The Recipe 59 of 69 Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely Need a little pumpkin pick-me-up? These muffins with semisweet chocolate chips are sure to delight. With a yield of 30 muffins, you and your guests can probably grab seconds if you want. Get The Recipe 60 of 69 Apple-Spice Muffins with Oat Streusel Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis While pumpkin-spice is nice, we love apple-spice for fall, too. Drizzled with an apple cider glaze and made with fuji apples because of their firm, crisp texture. These muffins are a breakfast stand-out. Get The Recipe 61 of 69 Overnight Eggnog-French Toast Casserole Caitlin Bensel If Thanksgiving really is the start of the holiday season, why not start off your day with a little holiday cheer? This crowd-pleasing breakfast is sure to impress as well as take a little pressure off your plate since most of the work for this recipe will be done the night before. Get The Recipe 62 of 69 Cinnamon-Raisin Biscuits Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Invite nostalgia to your Thanksgiving brunch table with this now-unavailable Hardee's breakfast. As the name suggests, tart raisins balance out the warm sweetness of cinnamon for a brunch that will have your guests reminiscing. Get The Recipe 63 of 69 Our Favorite Buttermilk Biscuit Will Dickey Of the hundreds of Southern buttermilk biscuit recipes tested in our Test Kitchen, this one stood out for its balance of softness and flakiness, neutrality and flavor. Enjoy these biscuits alone or with any number of condiments Get The Recipe 64 of 69 One-Dish Blackberry French Toast Whip up this brunch dish the night before Thanksgiving then chill it overnight. In the morning, all this recipe asks is 10-15 minutes in the oven for a deliciously easy Thanksgiving breakfast. Get The Recipe 65 of 69 Deep-Dish Loaded Hash Brown Casserole Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford Feed the extended family and friends with this supersize Thanksgiving brunch recipe. With hash browns, bacon, and plenty of cheese, what's not to love? Get The Recipe 66 of 69 Cheese-And-Sausage Quiche Will Dickey Quiches: a breakfast-for-any-meal, use-up-leftover-vegetables, and French-cuisine-turned-ordinary staple. Expecting a busy Thanksgiving morning? Make this recipe the day before—your guests won't even know the difference. Get The Recipe 67 of 69 Apple Bread Micah A. Leal This recipe uses applesauce and eggs as a healthier alternative to the typical butter-sugar base. After just 10 minutes of mixing, you're ready to sit back and let the oven work its magic. Get The Recipe 68 of 69 Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole This brunch go-to is a hardy and creamy morning sneak peak at the dinnertime feast to come. Sweet potato casserole with pecans and marshmallows will fly off the dinner table and this savory Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole will go just as fast that morning. Get The Recipe 69 of 69 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey Juicy and refreshing, this customizable fruit salad is just what your brunch table needs. Using seasonal fruit like pears and apples is a great way to showcase fall flavors alongside some mint and honey. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit